The Supreme Court has protected the Maharashtra Government from paying salary arrears estimated at around Rs 80 crore to teachers facing inquiries in the Shalarth ID scam. However, it has directed the State to continue paying their current salaries. A Bench of Justice M M Sundresh and Justice Prasanna B Varale passed the order while hearing petitions filed by the State Government challenging an April 21, 2026, judgment of the Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court. The High Court had allowed a bunch of around 89 petitions filed by teachers working in various educational institutions. Their salaries had been stopped from March 2025 following inquiries into alleged irregularities in appointments linked to the Shalarth ID scam.

 

The High Court had directed the State Government to release their salaries. It had also set aside the inquiry proceedings conducted by an officer appointed by the Education Department. The State Government challenged the judgment before the Supreme Court, arguing that the teachers had not specifically challenged either the appointment of the inquiry officer or the inquiry report before the High Court. The State also pointed out that the inquiry officer had found the appointments illegal and fraudulent. The State submitted that the High Court had set aside the entire inquiry despite the absence of a specific challenge to its findings.

 

The teachers had approached the High Court primarily seeking the release of their salaries. After hearing the senior advocates appearing for both sides, the Supreme Court issued notices in the State’s petitions and sought counter-affidavits within four weeks. The respondents can file rejoinders within two weeks thereafter. The matter will be heard next on January 27, 2027. The Court condoned the delay in filing the petitions. It clarified that the State need not pay the salary arrears in the meantime but must continue paying the teachers' current salaries. The State has filed multiple petitions challenging the High Court judgment in cases involving different employees. Three petitions were listed before the Supreme Court when the order was passed. Senior Advocate Devendra Chauhan appeared for the State, assisted by advocates Gagan Sanghi and Siddharth Dharmadhikari. Senior Advocates Babu H Marlapalle and Dama Seshadri Naidu appeared for the respondents, assisted by other advocates.